Not a clean slate

UNDERSTAND THE INFLUENCE OF A MOM ON HER PUPPIES

It is commonly believed that a puppy offers a 'clean slate' upon which to place your influence as a dog owner, and, while this may be true to some extent, it is crucial to realise the heavy influence the mother of your pup will have had prior to your taking your new canine companion home.

Here we discuss the role of the mother and her impact.

THE BITCH

Your puppy's mother has a massive influence on your future dog's behaviour and temperament. The father's traits, of course, are also part of the mix, but studies have agreed that the mother's temperament is 80% of everything! Why is this?

IN UTERO

The hormones produced while the pup is still in the womb influence the neural pathways of the puppies. Many bitches found on the streets and taken into rescue when pregnant will produce stressed puppies. This will affect the puppies' ability to cope with new situations throughout the course of their lives simply because their mother was stressed during pregnancy.

BEHAVIOUR AFTER BIRTH

Then, critically, the mother's behaviour is the first behaviour your puppy will observe and thereby learn from. If the mother is fearful and wary, her puppies will follow suit. Even if your puppy isn't showing signs of these traits when you first take them home, they will usually be showing them by the time they are 16 weeks of age.

Although it is tempting as owners to believe that because the puppies are so young, they will 'grow out' of the tendency, this simply is not the case. The behaviour they learn from their mother is so strongly imprinted on them and their neurological systems that these behaviours will always emerge in certain situations. There are ways to improve upon and manage these issues, but the default patterns will never be entirely forgotten, or 'fixed'.

In summary, these issues are very hard work to manage and improve, and even the most skilled trainers will not be able to eradicate these behaviours from your dog's behavioural repertoire permanently. Simply put – if the mom isn't what you are looking for in a dog, then don't take one of her puppies home with you.

A CAVEAT

It is also worth bearing in mind that every human has a slightly different personality. This means that a bitch that suits your tastes in personality may not suit everyone and that just because a bitch isn't right for you doesn't mean her puppies are destined to remain with her forever. Make the best choice for yourself and your family, and you'll reap the rewards later on.

TAKE HOME MESSAGE

Of course, even if the mother seems to be a perfect fit, issues can arise with the puppy you choose. There is no absolute fail-safe method for choosing the right dog. Yet being informed on what to look out for can help you avoid the more obvious errors and increase the chance of a successful pairing for both you and your new puppy.